It has been almost 100 years since government has shown spending restraint. What can be done to slow down our $22,000,000,000,000 national debt? The $22 trillion national debt symbolizes not only the broken budget process of today’s federal government, but decades of overspending by both Republicans and Democrats. MarketWatch …
Continue reading “The Forgotten Word in Politics: Restraint”
A pander bear should be the official mascot of the Democratic presidential debates. Never have so many candidates proposed so much spending. They are clearly trying to bribe voters to support the one who offers the most “free” stuff. In 1935, Ohio’s Robert A. Taft described President Franklin D. …
Fraud and abuse within Medicaid are not only hurting those who truly need services, but it is also fleecing taxpayers. Several states have recently found fraud and abuse within their Medicaid programs. Fraud and abuse within Medicaid are not only hurting those who truly need services, but it is …
Lobster tail, crab, booze, and a foosball table were purchased in the Federal Government’s use-it-or-lose-it spending spree. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) won election to the United States Senate for promising to make the federal government “squeal.” The reference is in response to the out-of-control spending that has plagued the federal …
Continue reading “Out-of-Control Spending Highlights Need for Fiscal Sanity”
Taxpayer dollars lost to waste, fraud, or abuse are dollars that cannot fund services for those who truly need the services. Beth Wood, who serves as North Carolina State Auditor, reported the “state Department of Health and Human Services improperly paid more than $100 million in Medicaid claims during fiscal year …
Continue reading “Does Your State Have Medicaid Fraud and Payment Errors?”
Addressing our massive national debt should be a top priority. Iowans must understand that the national debt crisis will not only impact them directly, but also state finances. The national debt has reached $22 trillion. Federal spending is now approaching $4.7 trillion as Congress currently debates President Donald Trump’s …
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) wants Uncle Sam to spend $315 billion on teacher salaries. This is dangerous for states, school districts, and is not the role of the federal government. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), who is also a current Democrat presidential candidate, recently proposed a new federal program that …
Continue reading “Federal Funds for Teachers Should Get A Failing Grade”
Constitutional spending limits are an effective means to control the growth of spending and protect the interests of taxpayers. Other states can learn a lesson from Colorado. Some will be disappointed this lesson is not about the legalization of marijuana, but rather Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights or TABOR. In …
Continue reading “What States Can Learn from Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)”
States that have lower tax rates and keep lower spending levels often see greater economic growth and more stable revenues. Government spending is a concern to many Iowans. Individuals, families, and businesses across Iowa all follow a budget that is not guaranteed to increase every year, yet Iowa’s budget …
U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Iowa “best state in the nation when it comes to infrastructure, healthcare, opportunity, and education.” Although this ranking is something Iowa can be proud of it does not mean that improvements cannot be made, especially regarding our state’s high and complex tax code. …
The state of Iowa is facing a tight budget. Although revenues at this time are not declining, Iowa’s revenues continue to be lower than projected. Some of the factors contributing to this include a decline in Iowa’s agricultural economy and the increasing consumer behavior of online purchases where sales taxes …
Continue reading “Reducing Government Spending: It Can Be Done”
Several states are moving in the direction of lowering their tax rates to create economic growth. The trend among many states has been to lower both individual and corporate income taxes as well as business and property taxes. In 2016 several states cut taxes and many of those states were …
Continue reading “Lowering Rates is a Positive Trend in State Taxation”
By John Hendrickson The Iowa Department of Revenue reports that 1,451 fees are imposed and collected by the State of Iowa.[1] These various fees are collected by state government agencies in Iowa. The taxpayers of Iowa, who just recently finished filing and paying their state and federal taxes, may not necessarily …
Fees in the State of Iowa: The Forgotten Rules, Regulations, and Costs on the Taxpayers By John Hendrickson The Iowa Department of Revenue reports that 1,451 fees are imposed and collected by the State of Iowa.[1] These various fees are collected by state government agencies in Iowa. The taxpayers of Iowa, …
